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(No Model.)

B. W. CARTER.

SHIRT BOARD 0R HANGER.

I Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

IN VEJV'TOR WITNESSES J 1 06 $7:

.dttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OEFicE.

EZRA XV. CARTER, OF COHOE S, NEIV YORK.

SHIRT BOARD OR HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,290, dated February 16, 1886.

Application filed March 20, 1885. Serial No. 159,513.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, EZRA WV. CARTER, of Cohoes, county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shirt Boards or Hangers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in frames or dummies for holding wet wearingapparel, un derclothing, or garments or articles made from woolen or other fabrics which are liable to shrink or lose their shapein the process of drying.

\Vhile especially adapted to wet garments, for the purpose of preventing shrinkage thereof, the device hereinafter described may be employed as a suit hanger or support for dry clothing, and will be found very convenient and efficient.

My invention consists of a frame or dummy made substantially in the form of the garment which is to be placed thereon, and composed of several plates or pieces of stout wire, so formed, bent, and twisted, and then hinged or linked together as to adapt the frame as a whole to be folded up or upon itself until it is brought into very compact form for storage or transportation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved folding shirt or garment board or dummy for holding articles of wear during the process of drying. Figs. 2 and 3 show the same in a folded position. Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in the form of joint and locking device, and Fig. 5 a modification in construction of my improved shirt-board.

A,A, B, and B represent four pieces of wire, which together form myim proved shirt-board. The pieces A and A form the main frame of the device, and B and B the sleeve-supports thereof. A and A are each formed or bent into substantially a halfrectangle, and are provided each at five points, a a, (4*, a and a, with loops, as shown, formed by twisting the wire upon itself. By means of the loops at" ciformed upon the ends of these half-frames, the halves are united,as shown,and are adapted by such loop-joint to be folded one half upon the other. The half-frame A by prefer- (NO model.)

ence is provided with catches a a one ateach extremity-formed by extending the ends of the wire slightly beyond the loops a a, and

giving it another turn or twist just sufficient to form a small hook or finger, which, when the two halves of the shirt frame or board are brought into the same plane, can be sprung over the wire A, serving to lock the halfframes in the desired position for use, and prevent accidental collapsing of the same.

As before stated, B and B represent the sleevesupports of the shirt-board,being made of sufficient length and dimensions to accommodate the sleeves of a shirt. They are each made from one piece of wire, provided with loopsb b"-oneateachend-whichpassthrough the loops (4 and a respectively, of the main or body frame, thus also serving to adapt the arms or sleeve'supports B and B to be folded over upon the parts A and A, which in turn fold one upon the other,as hereinabove stated. Preferably at the upper joint, I)", between the parts B and B and A and A, other looks or catches, b and b, are provided, similar to those a and a, before described, the purpose being to lock and hold the arms B and B in the same plane with frame A A-the desired position. Thus it will be seen a very simple, cheap, and durable shirt board or frame is socured, one which is capable of being folded into very compact form for storage or transportation,and which,when opened up for use, may be locked in position by the means de scribed, as if made from a single piece of wire.

In lieu of the lockjoint described, a joint similar to that shown in Fig. 4- may be employed, which consists in connecting the two ends of wire by a link, 0, and providing a sliding sleeve, 0, which may be moved along the wire until it covers joint 0. Being of sufficient length, it will prevent the breaking of the joint and hold the parts in a fixed relation. \Vhen this form of joint and lock is employed, it is desirable to make the part 0 perform the double office of a lock and hanger, which is accomplished by constructingthe sliding lock in the form shown in Fig. 4:, and providing it with a perforation, 0.

Instead of using wire for constructing the shirt-board, as described above, plates 1) I) E E, of metal or boards, or even paper or card-boards coated with shellac, varnish, or other water proof compound may be employed, and common stiff hinges, d d e e, provided for adapting the parts to be folded one upon the other, so that the device may be brought into compact form.

In the foregoing specification I have described only a shirt board or frame; but it will be seen that drawer and pantaloon boards or frames, or frames adapted to other garments or wearing-apparel may be constructed in a similar manner without departing from my invention.

Having now described my invention, I claim as new 1. A folding shirt or drawer board made in the form of the garment to which it is to be applied, and constructed in sections hinged or linked together, for the purpose and substantially as described.

2. A folding shirt or drawer board frame made to conform to the shape of the garment to which it is to be applied,and made in sections I hinged or linked together, whereby said frame is adapted to be folded into compact form, in the manner substantially as described.

3. A shirt or drawer board frame constructed from several pieces of wire,-and made in the form of the garment to which it is to be applied, said pieces of wire or sections of the frame being linked together, whereby the frame is adapted to be folded into compact form, for the purpose and substantially as described.

4. A folding shirt or drawer board constructed entirely of wire,and conforming,substantia1ly,to the shape of the garment to which it is to be applied, and adapted, when opened out for use, to be locked in such position, in the manner substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of March, A. D. 1885.

EZRA W. CARTER.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY A. Simon GHARLEs E. LANSING. 

